Inquiry into past forced adoptive policies and practices

Inquiry status:

Current

Date commenced:

22 Feb 2023

Deadline for submissions:

16 Jun 2023

Committee

Environment and Public Affairs Committee

House:

Legislative Council

Media Statements:

22 Feb 2023
PDF icon

16 Mar 2023
PDF icon

07/12/2023

Important Information:

Background to the inquiry
Information on making submissions to the Inquiry into past forced adoptive policies and practices.
Submission guidance questions

Terms of Reference:

On 22 February 2023, the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs resolved as follows:

To inquire into the past adoptive policies and practices of the twentieth century, notably the years between 1939 and 1980.

In particular, the Committee will seek to:

1. understand the lived experiences of those affected by historical forced adoption practices

2. examine the role of the State Government, health services and private institutions in these practices

3. identify what measures are currently available to assist persons experiencing distress, their effectiveness, and how those persons may be supported further

4. consider any other matter that arises during the course of the inquiry deemed to be relevant by the Committee.

Some names have been omitted from submissions. This is to protect the privacy of the submitter, the privacy of other individuals, or because the committee considered that the identity of individuals was not relevant to its terms of reference.

Please note that some submissions contain sensitive content. Reader discretion is advised.

Submission Number	Submitting person/organisation
001	Private Citizen received on 23 Feb 2023
002	Private Citizen received on 23 Feb 2023
003	Wendy Hebron received on 24 Feb 2023
004	Private Citizen received on 23 Feb 2023
005	Private Citizen received on 9 May 2023
006	Judith Hendriksen received on 28 Feb 2023
007	Lesley Horn received on 6 May 2023
008	Stephen Marshall received on 8 Mar 2023
011	Sharon Pendreigh received on 13 Mar 2023
012	Merle Davis received on 15 Mar 2023
013	Annette Farinosi received on 15 Mar 2023
014	Leilani Hannah received on 16 Mar 2023
015	Suzanne Maynard received on 18 Mar 2023
016	Crib Mates received on 27 Mar 2023
017	Private Citizen received on 27 Mar 2023
021	Private Citizen received on 3 Apr 2023
022	Glennys Fragomeni received on 7 Apr 2023
023	Margaret Nonas received on 8 Apr 2023
024	Katrina Farrelly received on 11 Apr 2023
026	Lisa Bodley received on 23 Feb 2023
027	Jacqueline Villanova received on 17 Apr 2023
028	Lyn Kinghorn received on 17 Apr 2023
031	Michael Grenfell received on 12 May 2023
032	Michael Hickley received on 17 May 2023
034	Jane Dicks received on 23 May 2023
035	Private Citizen received on 26 May 2023
036	Mental Health Commission received on 30 May 2023
037	Helen Margot Murphy received on 31 May 2023
038	Amanda McLennan received on 2 Jun 2023
040	Margaret Van Keppel received on 5 Jun 2023
0041	Private Citizen received on 5 Jun 2023
042	Teresa Tholstrup received on 5 Jun 2023
043	Private Citizen received on 6 Jun 2023
044	Denise Jensen received on 7 Jun 2023
046	Private Citizen received on 8 Jun 2023
047	Vicki Hawley received on 8 Jun 2023
048	Raymond Charles De Jong received on 9 Jun 2023
049	Ngala received on 9 Jun 2023
050	Maryla Rowcroft received on 9 Jun 2023
051	Relationships Australia received on 9 Jun 2023
052	Cheryl Feeney received on 12 Jun 2023
053	DES Action NSW received on 12 Jun 2023
054A	Kavita Forman received on 22 Aug 2023
055	June Smith received on 13 Jun 2023
056	Susanne Cutten received on 14 Jun 2023
057	Private Citizen received on 14 Jun 2023
058	Andrea Fewster received on 14 Jun 2023
058A	Andrea Fewster received on 11 Sep 2023
059	Sue MacDonald received on 14 Jun 2023
061	Michael Hawley received on 14 Jun 2023
062	Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea received on 14 Jun 2023
063	Danae Witherow received on 14 Jun 2023
065	Private Citizen received on 14 Jun 2023
066	Private Citizen received on 14 Jun 2023
067	Helen Russell received on 14 Jun 2023
068	Shannon Quinlan received on 15 Jun 2023
069	Department of Health received on 15 Jun 2023
070	Private Citizen received on 15 Jun 2023
071	Gaye McPhie received on 15 Jun 2023
072	Christine Cole received on 15 Jun 2023
073	Kathleen Maczkowiack received on 15 Jun 2023
074	Private Citizen received on 15 Jun 2023
076	Private Citizen received on 16 Jun 2023
077	Josephine Wilson received on 16 Jun 2023
078	Ian Pownall received on 16 Jun 2023
079	Jane Dent received on 16 Jun 2023
081	Barbara Maison received on 16 Jun 2023
084	Adoption Jigsaw received on 16 Jun 2023
091	Australian Psychological Society received on 16 Jun 2023
092	Private Citizen received on 16 Jun 2023
093	Maree Pryce received on 16 Jun 2023
094	Christine Kershaw received on 16 Jun 2023
095	Judy McHutchison received on 16 Jun 2023
096	Private Citizen (This submission contains sensitive content: reader discretion is advised) received on 16 Jun 2023
097	Private Citizen received on 16 Jun 2023
098	Private Citizen received on 16 Jun 2023
100	Margaret Wellstead received on 16 Jun 2023
101	ARMS (Vic) received on 19 Jun 2023
102	Private Citizen received on 19 Jun 2023
106	Department of Communities received on 20 Jun 2023
107	Cindy Stahl received on 20 Jun 2023
108	Marilyn Rulyancich received on 21 Jun 2023
110	Jennifer McRae received on 21 Jun 2023
112	Abraham Maddison received on 27 Jun 2023
113	Adoption Research and Counselling Service WA (ARCS) received on 27 Jun 2023
114	Private Citizen received on 5 Jul 2023
119	Kimmi Overend received on 26 Jul 2023
125	Peter Capomolla Moore received on 31 Jul 2023
127	Slater and Gordon received on 1 Aug 2023
128	Adoptee Rights Australia received on 1 Aug 2023
130	Bob Peters received on 7 Aug 2023
131	Private Citizen received on 8 Aug 2023
133	Origins SPSA received on 14 Aug 2023
133A	Origins SPSA received on 24 Aug 2023
135	Elizabeth Brew received on 22 Aug 2023
135B	Elizabeth Brew received on 5 Sep 2023
136	Antonietta (Toni) Sanfilippo received on 1 Sep 2023
137	Australian Association of Social Workers received on 1 Sep 2023
138	Matt Marchment received on 5 Sep 2023
0139	Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists received on 7 Sep 2023

•

Unless a venue is specified, hearings are held at the
Legislative Council Committee Rooms Ground Floor, 18-32 Parliament Place, West Perth

Date	Time	Venue	Organisation	Witness	Broadcast	Video
18 Sep 2023	09:30 AM		Department of Communities		Yes
18 Sep 2023	10:30 AM		Jigsaw WA		Yes

Related Transcripts of Evidence:

No documents found

Related Reports:

Report No	Title	Date tabled	Related documents
61	Terms of reference: Inquiry into past forced adoptive policies and practices	22 Feb 2023

Members conducting inquiry

Members:

Hon. Peter Foster MLC
Hon. Tjorn Sibma MLC
Hon. Sophia Moermond MLC
Hon. Shelley Payne MLC
Hon. Stephen Pratt MLC

Staff Members:

Mr Stephen Brockway (Advisory Officer)
Ms Kate Keegan (Committee Clerk )